Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Feb. 13-15

PHOENIX — From a South Sudan coup with local ties, to the latest Nancy Guthrie investigation developments, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from Feb. 13-15.

2 men sentenced in Arizona for conspiring to export arms for coup in South Sudan

A federal judge in Arizona recently sentenced two men for conspiring to export weapons to South Sudan for a coup, authorities said.

The two men are 42-year-old Peter Biar Ajak, who is from Maryland, and 46-year-old Abraham Chol Keech, who is from Utah, according to the Department of Justice.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona said the Ajak plotted to seize political power in South Sudan.

“The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4 million arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d’état in South Sudan,” Courchaine said in an announcement.

Ajak is a leading South Sudanese academic and activist living in exile in the U.S., according to The Associated Press. He said South Sudan’s president wanted him abducted or killed, prompting the American government to help him flee.

After hiding in Kenya with his family, Ajak relocated to Maryland, where the U.S. issued emergency visas to support their move.

Prosecutors said the two men tried to illegally purchase the export-controlled, military-grade weapons without the required export licenses between February 2023 and March 2024. Some of the weapons and ammunition included:

• 10 Stinger missile systems
• 200 grenade launchers
• 1,000+ machine guns and rifles
• Over 3.5 million rounds of ammunition

They discussed paying bribes and disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid, even creating a fake invoice to hide the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the weapons through financial institutions. Their goal was to install Ajak as the president of South Sudan.

Maricopa County prosecutors move to revoke release conditions for Preston Lord murder suspect

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has taken action to revoke the release conditions of Talyn Vigil, one of six defendants charged with the murder of Preston Lord, a 16-year-old who was fatally beaten at a Halloween Party in Queen Creek in 2023.

Lord died in a hospital on Oct. 30, 2023, two days after the blitz-style assault. So far, only one of the six suspects has taken a plea agreement: William Owen Hines.

Vigil and the other suspects were charged with murder in 2024.

Vigil was 17 at the time, and he faced first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in relation to the fatal assault. His bond was set at $1 million, which he posted before being released from jail on the condition that he be subjected to electronic monitoring during his release. This was in April 2024.

Prosecutors take action after Preston Lord murder suspect’s 2026 arrest

Vigil was then served with a restraining order on Aug. 22, 2025, and he was arrested in Gilbert on Sept. 5, 2025, on suspicion of violating that order, according to MCAO’s recent filing.

$6.5M in stolen taxpayer money secured by federal prosecutors in Arizona

A total of $6,550,729 in stolen taxpayer money has been secured through a civil asset forfeiture action, according to Arizona prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced Monday that the money was obtained “through (COVID-19) pandemic-related schemes.”

Fraudsters allegedly took advantage of pandemic-related funding programs that are meant to help with unemployment claims, such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. They were accused of impersonating U.S. citizens with “fabricated employment information” and routing funds from these programs to bank accounts created through stolen personal information.

More than 2,000 fake bank accounts were found after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service.

The COVID Fraud Task Force has recovered more than $1.4 billion nationally as of Monday.

Multiple people reportedly detained, no arrests as Nancy Guthrie investigation continues

The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance led law enforcement to a home near her Tucson-area residence where two people were reportedly detained late Friday night.

Law enforcement sealed off a road near Nancy Guthrie’s home, and a parade of sheriff’s and FBI vehicles, including forensics vehicles, passed through the roadblock that was set up about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the house.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the activity was part of the Guthrie case. But added that the FBI requested it not release further information.

NewsNation’s Brian Entin reported a SWAT team was on site, and that authorities “pulled two people out of a house.” Entin added a nearby traffic stop was also connected to the case.

Elsewhere in the area, ABC15’s Nick Ciletti reported the FBI was seen at a Culver’s where a man was detained. It was not immediately clear if the situation was related to the Guthrie case.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told KOLD News on Saturday morning that the activity was “nothing more than a lead tracked down that led to a search warrant and no arrest.”

Nanos added that there were no signs of Guthrie at the house. The sheriff also confirmed that a person was detained at a traffic stop but was later released, reportedly describing them as cooperative.

Arizona’s Family Briana Whitney reported the FBI is waiting for evidence testing results to come back before providing an update regarding Friday night’s activity.

What to know about Nancy Guthrie disappearance

Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities say her blood was found on the front porch of her Tucson-area home. Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes Republicans’ 2nd attempt at tax conformity bill

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed Republicans’ second attempt at a tax conformity bill on Thursday, extending uncertainty during filing season.

Arizona lawmakers are scrambling to update the state’s tax code to align with changes made last year to the federal code under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

In Thursday’s veto letter for HB 2785, Hobbs urged the GOP-controlled Legislature to approve the plan she calls the Middle Class Tax Cuts Package. She said anything other than that proposal needs to be negotiated while accusing Republicans of “partisan political theater.”

Hobbs said her package (SB 1203) “would put more money in Arizonans’ pockets without decimating services people rely on.”

The Middle Class Tax Cuts Package calls for a $6,000 deduction for seniors and increases the standard deductions on state tax forms. It also includes deductions for tipped income, overtime pay and interest on loans for new American-made vehicles.

Republicans say their tax conformity plan matches current forms

Both chambers of the Legislature passed HB 2785 on Wednesday. Republicans said it matches the state tax forms already issued and would provide $440 million in tax relief for the 2025 tax year.

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